The REAL Reason I Love The Christmas Season // M-Note 11.29.2025

If you were having trouble believing that Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season is here, then waking up this morning might have reminded you! Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent, the season in the church that prepares us for, and leads us to, Christmas. Sometimes people will ask me how I really feel about Christmas. After all, it is a busy season with high expectations for the church! But, it is my favorite season in the church. I thought I would share why!
 
Besides the obvious answers— it celebrates the miracle of God’s birth among us, cookies, it reminds us we aren’t alone, gift-giving and gift-receiving, food, time with friends and family, desserts, decorations, the music, traditions old and new, snow…I could keep going. But, what I love the most is that Christmas is one of the only times when even people who wouldn’t normally think about church, consider coming. There is no other church holiday that is still recognized by the greater world as special, no other season when time seems to march towards a fixed date with such anticipation and wide-spread recognition that something solemn, and special, and worth noting is about to happen.
 
There is no other day like Christmas, when stores close, emails can be left unanswered, outside obligations take a pause, and the world takes one small breather together. Along with that, there are people, who on any other day of the year are indifferent towards church, suddenly consider it. Every December, I will meet people who are “just checking out”, “visiting with a friend”, “want to see what church was about”, or “are looking for something new in their life”. People come seeking tradition, comfort, challenge, forgiveness, adventure, rest, meaning, truth, an epiphany, familiarity, or community. Whatever it is we look for, we still think that perhaps God might offer it, and maybe the church is a place we can find it.
 
Whatever the reason, people are open to an invitation this time of year, and folks who do not normally come to church decide to check it out. And I get to meet them, listen to them, hear their story, and share good news with them. THAT is why I love it.
 
So with Thanksgiving behind us, and the Christmas season greeting us this morning, I hope you will get ready to join me tomorrow for worship as we begin the best season in the church. I will be starting a new series called PEACE, and we will be talking about how Jesus brings peace to various areas of our life. This is the perfect series for someone who may be considering church this year. So, don’t overlook the people around you who might be looking for something new this Christmas. Invite them to join you at The Gathering.
 
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy the snow today, and I will see you tomorrow.
 
Peace,
Matt
 
P.S. I want to thank all of you that brought food last weekend for STL Area Foodbank. When we dropped it off, they said it was one of the largest single food drives they have received this year. We donated 5488 lbs of food and along with the $10,000 donation, provided enough food for 44,523 meals. Thank you so much for being a generous church.